Apparatus for vending cylindrical articles



July 13, 1965 A. J. GARvlN APPARATUS FOR VENDING CYLINDRICAL'ARTICLES Filed June 7. 1962 2 snevet-sneet 1 Inventor ALEX JAMES GARvlN by: @vn/24% July 13, 1965 A. J. GARVIN 3,194,431

APPARATUS FOR VENDING CYLINDRICAL ARTICLES Filed June 7, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor ALEX JAMES GARVIN United States Patent O par 3,194,431 APPARATUS FR VENDNG CYLINDRICAL v ARTICLES Alex .lames Garvin, Scarborough, ntario, Canada, as-

signor to Superpach Vending (Curacao), NA., Willen stad, Curacao, Netherlands Antiiles, a corporation of Curacao Filed June 7, 1962, Ser. No. 200,737 6 Claims. (Cl. 221-'19) The invention relates to apparatus for vending cylindrical articles and it is of particular interest for vending articles which are of relatively substantial weight in relation to their size.

ln certain circumstances it has proved permissible for vending apparatus designed for cylindrical articles to store such articles in a large open hopper in which the articles were merely arranged on top of one another and fed downwardly under the influence of gravity. Problems arise however when such articles have a mass which is substantial in proportion to their size and thus tend to jam or bridge across the interior of the hopper and prevent a continuous feeding of such articles in the desired manner. One solution to this problem is found in the invention disclosed in my prior US. Patent application Serial Number 112,896 filed on May 26, 1961, now Patent No. 3,095,397, and assigned to the same assignee as this application. While this device will overcome many of the problems involved in this type of situation I have found that improved performance may be obtained, particularly in cases where the cylindrical objects or articles to be dispensed are of substantial weight, by means of the invention which will now be described in this application. In addition,-it wil be noted that the problems involved in this type of apparatus are aggravated by the need to provide storage capacity for a large number of articles in each vending apparatus in order to reduce the frequency of servicing.v Thus, at least when the vending apparatus is substantially full, the load on the lowermost articles is very considerably increased, with a consequent increase in the tendency of such articles to bridge and jam within the hopper.

It is therefore a principal objective of this invention to provide apparatus for vending cylindrical articles which provides storage capacity for a substantial number of such articles while permitting a free ilow of such articles for dispensing.

More particularly it is an object of the invention to provide apparatus for vending cylindrical articles having the foregoing advantages in which the load applied to the lower most articles is substantially the same at all times.

More particularly it is an object of this invention to provide apparatus for vending cylindrical articles having the foregoing advantages in which the articles stored within the apparatus are simultaneously agitated on the dispensing of each article to break up and prevent jamming of articles therein.

More particuiarly it is an objective of this invention to provide apparatus for vending cylindrical articles having the foregoing advantages in which the bulk of the articles stored within the apparatus are supported independently of the articles being dispensed.

The foregoing and other objectives which will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention by the provision of a device for vending cylindrical objects, etc.

A device for vending cylindrical objects and comprising: a hopper having length, width and depth, the length being substantially equal to the length of said articles and the width being greater than the diameter of said articles;

,n airain Patented July 13, 1965 ICC a transport channel located down one side of said hopper for passage of said articles therefrom; a plurality of article support means located in said hopper, shaped and dimensioned to maintain said articles in rows spaced from one another and angled to permit the same to roll therealong in response to gravitational force into said channel; gate means moveably located between said support means and said channel to control passage of said articles as aforesaid; coin controlled slide means manually operable to effect delivery of a said article, and connected to said gate means for movement thereof in unison with movement of said coin slide means to permit passage of a said article into said channel; and article delivery means connected to said coin slide means to move .a said article from said channel for delivery as aforesaid.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the following drawings in which like reference devices refer to like parts thereof throughout the various views and diagrams and in which;

FIGURE 1 is a sectional side elevation of a preferred embodiment of the vending apparatus according to the invention showing the cylindrical articles therein kin phantom form, and,

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged isometric view of the interior of the apparatus shown in FIGURE l cut away to reveal the working mechanism.

From FIGURE 1 it will be noted that this preferred embodiment of the invention comprises outer casing'lt) which may be fastened to a wall or supported rin any suitable manncr by means not shown, provided with a front closure 11 having a handle 12 and lock 13 for preventing unauthorized opening thereof.

Located and supported within outer casing 1,0 is the storage and dispensing mechanism generally indicated by reference 14, The storage and dispensing mechanism 14 comprise a unitary construction which may merely be lifted from outer casing 1@ for servicing and the like after the removal of front closure 11. In one preferred embodiment outer casing 14B may be made wide enough to accommodate two or more storage and dispensing units 14 side by side with one another to provide a multiple vending apparatus dispensing a variety of different goods.

Referring now -to FIGURES 1 and 2 it will be seen that the storage and dispensing unit 14 comprises the hopper 1S defined on three sides by backwall 16 and respective side walls 17, the fourth side being left open for recharging. In order to support a large number of cylindrical articles in hopper 1S side walls 17 are provided with struck-out portions 18 defining opposed article support means in the form of downwardly angled shelf along which cylindrical articles placed thereon may roll under gravitational force. Down the rearward side of hopper 15 transport channel 19 is provided for carrying articles downwardly therein, fed from support means 18 in a manner to be described below. Channel 19 is defined by ribs 2d formed on back-wall 16 which bear against articles carried therein and maintain them in a uniform vertical stack. In order to retain individual rows of articles on their respective support means 18 horizontal rods 21 are provided extending across the lower ends of `support means 18 from side to side of hopper 15 and contacting and engaging the lower most article carried in each pair of support means 1d. Rod-s 21 extend through the opposite side walls 17 of hopper 15, longitudinal slots 22 being provided for the purpose. Gn either side of hopper 15 vertical bars 23 are provided extending substantially from top to bottom thereof and to which ends of rods 21 are attached for movement thereof in unison along their respective slots 2,2. u

In order to dispense one article from the bottom of channel 19 coin slide 24 is provided for manual operalby means of bearing plate 39.

tion in known manner along an axis substantially normal to the axis of channel 19. Pusher plate 25 is attached to coin slide 24 by bolts 2'1 and is bent downwardly at the free end thereof to provide article pusher 27 oriented to contact the lowermost article in channel 19 and push the same rearwardly out of hopper 15 through opening 28 formed at the foot of rear wall 16. Article retainer 29 is welded to lthe upper surface of plate 25 and oriented to engage and support the remainder of the articles in channel 19 during dispensing of the lowermost article and prevent the same from moving downwardly until coin slide 24 is withdrawn,

thus preventing inadvertent double feed.

In order to replenish the articles carried in channel 19, movement of the coin slide 24 to and fro is communicated to rods 21 by means ofA cross-shaft 3) attached =to pusher plate 25 and extending through opposite walls 17 of hopper 15 through horizontal slots 31 and supported for movement therealong by rollers 32 running in tracks 33. The ends of cross-shaft 30 are kattached to connecting rods 34 extending upwardly on the outer sides of hopper 15 which are in turn connected to levers 35. Levers 35 are themselves pivotally mounted about cross-shaft 36 extending through opposite side walls 17 of hopper 15. The other ends of levers 35 are attached to bars 23 at approximately the mid-points thereof to complete the linkage between bars 23 and coin slide 24.

In order to prevent operation of coin slide 24 when hopper 1S is empty and the supply of articles is exhausted, interlock means are provided in the form of yoke member 37 swingably mounted on cross-shaft 38 Yoke member 37 is counterbalanced by weight 4t) attached to one end thereof causing the other end thereof to adopt a normal position in which it will interlock with article pusher 27 and prevent inward movement thereof. In order to maintain yyoke 37 out of engagement with article pusher 27 tongue 41 is attached thereto and extends forwardly therefrom beneath the lower end of channel 19 Vfor engagement by the lowermost article therein. Tongue 41 is bent upwardly in order to prevent inadvertent dispensing of an article resting thereon. Support member 42 extends between opposite side walls 17 of hopper 15 beneath tongue 41 and prevents deflection thereof below a predetermined point.

Having now described the construction and the operation of the instant storage and dispensing mechanism 14 reference is made once more to outer casing 11B which is provided with the shelf member 43 extending from side to side thereof for carrying hopper 15 thereon. Shelf member 43 is provided with opening 44 in registration with coin slide 24 to permit coin falling therefrom to pass through shelf member 43 and into coin Vreceptacle '45. Coin receptacle 45 is itself supported on bracket 46 welded to shelf member 43 and is retained therein by lock 47. In order to catch an article dispensed from hopper 15 by coin slide 24 and pusher plate 25 outer casing is provided with shute 43 extending across the full width thereof and angled downwardly towards the front thereof in order to carry an article towards an opening 49 provided in the front face thereof. Shute 48 is provided with lip 50 extending forwardly of outer casing 10 which is bent upward to retain an article in position theron until it is removed by hand.

In operation front closure 11 may be removed Vby means of handle 12 and hopper 15 may be charged with a supply of articles for vending by an operator merely introducing groups of articles unto respective support means 18 in rows. Each pair of support means 1S will ycarry an equal number of articles which may advantageously be about five or six per row depending upon the relative sizes thereof. In order to release coin slide 24 for operation the operator should ensure that at Vwardly through opening 23 in rear Wall 16 of hopper 15. When an article is to be purchased or dispensed,

'a coin will be placed in coin slide 24 in the usual manner and coin slide 24 will be pushed inwardly for the full extent of its movement. Inward movement of coin slide 24 will carry with it pusher plate 25 and article pusher 27 and article retainer 29, which are supported for forward and backward reciprocation in this manner by means of cross-shaft 30 and rollers 32 running in tracks 33 fastened to side walls 17 of hopper 15. The lowermost article in channel 19,.v resting on tongue 41 in the manner described above, will vthus be pushed through opening 2S in rear wall 16 of hopper 15 from where it will fall under gravity unto shute 48 and roll downwardly until it is arrested by lid 5@ at which point it may be removed. Simultaneously article retainer 29 will engage the lowermost surface of the next adjacent article in channel 19 and retain the same in position preventing it from feeding downwardly until coin slide 24 is withdrawn once more, thus preventing inadvertent double feed. Forward movement of pusher plate 25 will carry with it shaft 30 carried on rollers 32 as described, and attach to connecting rods 34, thus drawing connecting rods 34 towards the back wall 16 of hopper 15. Forward movement of connecting rods 34 will betransmitted to levers 35 as a downward flinging movement thereof about cross-shaft 36, thus moving bars 23 downwardly. Downward movement of bars 23 will in turn draw rods 21 downwardly in slots 22 thus causing the same to move out of registration with the varticles resting on struck-out portions 18 and permitting the same to roll freely downwardly into channel 19. It will be apparent that at least so long as channel 19l is substantially full of articles this forward vand downward rolling movement ofthe articles stored on struck-out portions 18 will carry them only partially into channel 19 since further movement is prevented by the presence of articles already there. However, in the majority of cases at least Vone article, generally from the topmost pair of struck-out portions 18 which are still charged with articles, will succeed in enteringy channel 19 and joining the stack of articles resting therein. As coin slide V24 is drawn outwardly at the completion of its stroke, pusher plate 25 is`carried rearwardly, carrying with it shaft 3) and thus reversing the movement of connecting rods 34 and levers 35. Bars 23 will thus be carried upwardly once more moving rods 21 back into registration with the articles carried lon struckout portions 18. It will be noted that the upward and downward movement of rods 21 is guided and controlled by the orientation and dimension of slots 22 in side walls 17 in hopper 15. It will be noted in this preferred embodiment that slots 22 are inclined slightly fromvthe vertical to carry rods 21 along a predetermined angled path which ensures the maintenance of a certain limited degree of spacing between the articles resting in channel 19 and the articles stored on struck-out portions 18. In this way `when rods 21 are moved downwardly the articles stored on struck-out portions 18' .are free to roll along a relatively short distance corresponding to the spacing between those articles and the articles in channel 19. On the reverse movement of rods 21 upwardly, the articles stored on struck-out portions 18 are thus moved slightly rearwardly away from channel 19. In this manner all of the articles stored in hopper 15 are moved or agitated slightly upon the dispensing of each article, thus minis mizing the chances of jamming of articles stored in hopper 15.

Articles will normally feed automatically from the topmost row of articles thus maintaining a continuous column of articles in channel 19, and preventing one article from turning lengthwise. ln exceptional circumstances, such as the insertion of a defective or damaged package or article, jamming may occur either in the one of the rows of articles on struck-out portions 18 or more irnportantly on the channel 19 itself. Such jamming `will generally be of a temporary nature and will clear itself after further agitation by the dispensing of the lower articles in channel 19. However, during the presence of such a defective article further articles will continue to feed normally into channel 19 from those rows of articles located below the stoppage. ln this way the column or articles in channel 19 is maintained substantially continuous without a space or gap developing which would itself be a cause of further faulty operation.

The foregoing steps may be repeated until the stock of articles in hopper is exhausted, at which time, yoke 37 will swing upwardly about cross-shaft 38 under the influence of counter-weight 40, into the path of article pusher 27. On the next occasion when it is attempted to dispense an article, the coin will be placed in coin slide 24 and coin slide 24 will be pushed inwardly, however, forward movement thereof will be restrained by the inter-engagement of yoke 37 with article pusher 27 thus preventing completion of the stroke. The coin slide 24 may then be withdrawn and the coin recovered.

The servicing of the instant vending apparatus is of elementary nature, involving the addition of further articles into hopper 15 and the removal of coins collected in coin receptacle 45.

From the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent that the invention provides a vending apparatus which is relatively simple and economical to produce and which is yet capable of storing a substantial number of articles without impairing its ability to dispense individual articles as desired. 1n addition, the simplicity of construction substantially reduces the need for expert servicing.

The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention is here made by way of example only and it is not intended to limit the invention to any of the specific features described but the invention comprehend all such variations as come within the spirit of scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A device for vending cylindrical articles comprising:

(a) a hopper having length, width and depth, the length being substantially equal to the length of said articles and the width being greater than the diameter of said articles;

(b) a substantially vertical transport channel located down one side of said hopper for passage of said articles therefrom; j

(c) `a plurality of article support means located in said hopper, shaped and dimensioned to maintain said articles in rows spaced from one another and angled to permit the same to roll therealong into said channel in response to gravitational force;

(d) a plurality of gate means located between respective said support means and said vertical channel and movable at an inclination to the vertical between an upper position and a lower position, whereby said gate means upon movement to said lower position allows said articles to roll into said channel and stack therein, and said gate means upon movement to said upper position engages and pushes articles on said support means clear of said stack, thereby to agitate said articles and prevent jamming thereof;

(e) coin controlled slide means manually operable to effect delivery of a said article, and coupled to said gate means for movement thereof in unison with movement of said coin slide means thereby to permit passage of a said article into said channel;

(f) and article delivery means connected to said coin slide means to move a said article from said channel for delivery as aforesaid.

2. A device for vending cylindrical articles compris- (a) a hopper having length, width and depth, the length being substantially equal to the length of said articles and the width being greater than the diameter of said articles;

(b) a transport channel located .down one side of said hopper for passage of said articles therefrom;

(c) a plurality of article support means located in said hopper, shaped and dimensioned to maintain said articles in rows spaced from one another and angled to permit the same to roll therealong intro said channel in response to gravitational force;

(d) a plurality of gate means located between respective said support means and said vertical channel and movable at an inclination to the vertical between an upper position and a lower position, whereby said gate means upon movement to said lower position `allows said articles to roll into said channel and stack therein, and said gate means upon movement to said upper position engages and pushes articles on said support means clear of said stack, thereby to agitate said articles and prevent jamming thereof;

(e) coin controlled slide means manually operable to 4effect delivery of a said article, and coupled to said gate means for movement thereof in unison with movement of said coin slide means to permit passage of a said article into said channel;

(f) article delivery means connected to said coin slide means to move a said article from said channel for delivery as aforesaid;

(g) an interlock member located adjacent the path of said article delivery means and biased for engagement therewith, said interlock member engageable by articles in said transport channel to maintain said member out of contact with said article delivery means until said channel becomes empty of said articles,

3. A device for vending cylindrical articles comprislng:

(a) a hopper having opposed side walls spaced apart a distance greater than the length of a said object and being open at the front and back thereof for filling and emptying thereof;

(b) a lockable casing for securing said hopper;

(c) pairs of struck out shelf members located in opposition to one another in said side walls and extending at least partially into said hopper; said members being angled downwardly from front to back of said hopper and being in spaced parallel relation to adjacent said pairs and separated by a distance greater than the diameter of said articles for supporting said articles thereon;

(d) slots formed in said side walls;

(e) a plurality of rod members positioned across said hopper adjacent the lower back end of respective said shelf members and passing into said slots in sai-d opposed side walls, said slots being oriented to guide said rod members from an upper front position in registration with respective articles on said shelf members, downwardly to a lower back position out of registration with said articles, whereby upon said rod members being in said lower position said articles will -roll from said respective shelf members to form a stack between said hopper and said casing, and upon said rod members being moved to said upper position said rod members will move said respective articles on said shelf members away from said stack, thereby to maintain a limited degree of spacing therebetween', l

(f) interconnection members linking said rods for movement in unison;

(g) coin slide means operable to deliver a said article;

(h) linkage coupling said interconnection members and said coin slide for simultaneous operation thereof;

(i) and a delivery member on vsaid coin slide for engaging a said article and moving the same from said hopper on operation of said coin slide.

4r A device for vending cylindrical articles comprising:

(a) a hopper having opposed side walls spaced apart a rdistance greater than the length of -a said object and being open -at the front and back thereof for filling and emptying thereof;

(b) a lockable casing for securing said hopper;

(c) pairs of struck out shelf members located in opposition to one another in said side walls and extending at least partially into said hopper, `said members being angled downwardly from front to back of said hopper and being in spaced parallel relation to adjacent said pairs separated by a distance greater than the diameter of said articles for Isupporting said article thereon; Y

(d) slots extending through said side walls;

(e) a plurality of rod members positioned across said hopper adjacent the lower back end of respective said shelf members and passing through slot-s defined by said opposed side walls, said slots being oriented to guide said rod members from an upper front position in registration with respective articles on said shelf members, downwardly to a lower back position out of registration with said articles, whereby upon said rod members being in said lower position said articles will roll from said respective shelf members to form a stack between said hopper `and said casing, and upon said rod members being moved to said upper position said rod members will move said respective articles on said shelf members away from said stack, thereby to agitate said articles and prevent jambing thereof;

(f) linterconnection members linking said rods exteriorly of said side walls, whereby ren-dering said rods movable in unison;

(g) coin slide means operable to deliver -a said article;

(h) linkage coupling said interconnection members andy said coin `slide for -simultaneous operation thereof;

(i) a delivery member on ysaid coin slide for engaging a said article .and moving the same from said hopper on operation of said coin slide;

(j) `at least one bearing plate attached to' said side walls adjacent to said coin slide for supporting the same during operation;

(k) and a cross bar connected to said coin slide, said cross bar supported on roller means.

5.l A device for vending cylindrical articles comprising:

lbers being angled downwardly from front to back of said hopper and being in spaced parallel relation to adjacent said pairs separated by a distance greater than the diameter of said articles for supporting said articles thereof;

(d) slots formed in said side walls;

(e) a plurality of parallel rod members positioned across said hopper adjacent the lower back end of respective said shelf members and passing through slots defined by said opposed side walls, said slots being oriented to guide said rod members from an upper front position in registration with respective articles on said shelf members, downwardly to a lower` back position out of registration with said articles, whereby upon said rod members being in lsaid lower position said articles will roll from said respective shelf members to form a stack between said hopper and said casing, and upon saidl rod members being moved to said upper position said rod members will move said respective articles on said shelf members away from said stack; thereby to agitate -said articles and prevent jambling of said stack;

(f) interconnection bars linking said rods exteriorly of said side walls; whereby said rods are rendered movable as a unitary gate;

(g) coin slide means operable to deliver .a said article;

(h) levers coupled to said interconnection hars and pivoting about a point remote therefrom on said side walls;

(i) link members connected to said levers intermediate their ends and to said coin slide transmitting movement of said coin slide to said lever;

(j) and a delivery member on said coin slide for engaging a said article and moving the same from said hopper on operation of said coin slide.

6. A device for vending cylindrical articles comprising: v

(a) a hopper having opposed side wallsV spaced apart a distance greater than the length of a said object and being open at'the front and back thereof for Afilling and emptying thereof;

(b) a lockable casing for securing said hopper;

(c) -pairs of struck out shelf members located in opposition to one anotherV in said side walls and extending at least partially into said hopper, said members being angled downwardly from front to back of said hopper and being in spaced'parallel relation to -adjacent said pairs separated by a distance greater th-an the diameter of said articles for supporting said articles thereon; t

(d) slots extending through said side Walls at an inclination between the vertical and` said kdownwardly angled shelf members;

(e) a plurality of horizontal rod members, one for each said shelf, said rod members positioned across said hopper adjacent the lower back end of respective said shelf members and passing through slots defined by said opposed side walls, sai-d slots being'oriented to guide said rod members from an upper front positionin registration with respective articles on said shelf members, downwardly to a lower back position out of registration with said articles, whereby upon said rod members being in said lower position said articles will roll from said respective shelf members to formv a stack between said hopper and said casing, and upon said rod members being moved to said upper position said rod membersgwill move said respective articles on `said shelf members away from lsaid stack, thereby to maintain a limited degree of spacing therebetween; Y l

(f)tinterconnection bars adjacent said slots exteriorly of said side walls, said barslinking said rods for movement as a unitary gate; p

(g) coin slide means operable to deliver a said article;

(h) levers coupled to said interconnecting bars and pivoting about a point remote therefrom on said side walls; v

(i) further slots formed in said side walls alongside sai-d coin slide;

(j) :a cross bar connected to 4said coin .slide and extending through said further slots;

(k) link members connected to said levers intermediate their ends and to said cross bar, Ithus transmitting movement Iof said coin slide to said lever;

l(l) bearing plates attached to said side walls vadjacent gaging a said article and moving the same from said hopper on operation Iof `said coin slide.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,638,792 8/27 Wingate 221--103 1,967,1'14 7/34 Cutler 221-107 X 2,416,728 3/47 Albrecht 221--107 2,831,419 4/58 Timm 221--107 X RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Primary Examiner.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, LOUIS J. DEMBO, Examiners. 

6. A DEVICE FOR VENDING CYLINDRICAL ARTICLES COMPRISING: (A) A HOPPER HAVING OPPOSED SIDE WALLS SPACED APART A DISTANCE GREATER THAN THE LENGTH OF A SAID OBJECT AND BEING OPEN AT THE FRONT AND BACK THEREOF FOR FILLINGH AND EMPTYING THEREOF; (B) A LOCKABLE CASING FOR SECURING SAID HOPPER; (C) PAIRS OF STRUCK OUT SHELF MEMBERS LOCATED IN OPPOSITION TO ONE ANOTHER IN SAID SIDE WALLS AND EXTENDING AT LEAST PARTIALLY INTO SAID HOPPER, SAID MEMBERS BEING ANGLED DOWNWARDLY FROM FRONT TO BACK OF SAID HOPPER AND BEING IN SPACED PARALLEL RELATION TO ADJACENT SAID PAIRS SEPARATED BY A DISTANCE GREATER THAN THE DIAMETER OF SAID ARTICLES FOR SUPPORTING SAID ARTICLES THEREON; (D) SLOTS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID SIDE WALLS AT AN INCLINATION BETWEEN THE VERTICAL AND SAID DOWNWARDLY ANGLED SHELF MEMBERS; (E) A PLURALITY OF HORIZONTAL ROD MEMBERS, ONE FOR EACH SAID SHELF, SAID ROD MEMBERS POSITIONED ACROSS SAID HOPPER ADJACENT THE LOWER BACK END OF RESPECTIVE SAID SHELF MEMBERS AND PASSING THROUGH SLOTS DEFINED BY SAID OPPOSED SIDE WALLS, SAID SLOTS BEING ORIENTED TO GUIDE SAID ROD MEMBERS FROM AN UPPER FRONT POSITION IN REGISTRATION WITH RESPECTIVE ARTICLES ON SAID SHELF MEMBERS, DOWNWARDLY TO A LOWER BACK POSITION OUT OF REGISTRATION WITH SAID ARTICLES, WHEREBY UPON SAID ROD MEMBERS BEING IN SAID LOWER POSITION SAID ARTICLES WILL ROLL FROM SAID RESPECTIVE SHELF MEMBERS TO FORM A STACK BETWEEN SAID HOPPER AND SAID CASING, AND UPON SAID ROD MEMBERS BEING MOVED TO SAID UPPER POSITION SAID ROD MEMBERS WILL MOVE SAID RSPECTIVE ARTICLES ON SAID SHELF MEMBERS AWAY FROM SAID STACK, THEREBY TO MAINTAIN A LIMITED DEGREE OF SPACING THEREBETWEEN; (F) INTERCONNECTION BARS ADJACENT SAID SLOTS EXTERIORLY OF SAID SIDE WALLS, SAID BARS LINKING SAID RODS FOR MOVEMENT AS A UNITARY GATE; (G) COIN SLIDE MEANS OPERABLE TO DELIVER A SAID ARTICLE; (H) LEVERS COUPLED TO SAID INTERCONNECTING BARS AND PIVOTING ABOUT A POINT REMOTE THEREFROM ON SAID SIDE WALLS; (I) FURTHER SLOTS FORMED IN SAID SIDE WALLS ALONGSIDE SAID COIN SLIDE; (J) A CROSS BAR CONNECTED TO SAID COIN SLIDE AND EXTENDING THROUGH SAID FURTHER SLOTS; (K) LINK MEMBERS CONNECTED TO SAID LEVERS INTERMEDIATE THEIR ENDS AND TO SAID CROSS BAR, THUS TRANSMITTING MOVEMENT OF SAID COIN SLIDE TO SAID LEVER; (L) BEARING PLATES ATTACHED TO SAID SIDE WALLS ADJACENT SAID COIN SLIDE FOR SUPPORTING THE SAME DURING OPERATION; (M) BEARINGS ATTACHED TO SAID COIN SLIDE FOR CONTACTING SAID BEARING PLATES; (N) AND A DELIVERY MEMBER ON SAID COIN SLIDE FOR ENGAGING A SAID ARTICLE AND MOVING THE SAME FROM SAID HOPPER ON OPERATION OF SAID COIN SLIDE. 